NEW YORK (AP) -- Leaders of a school bus drivers' union are ending their monthlong strike in New York City.

Some 8,000 bus drivers and aides walked off the job Jan. 16. The union announced Friday that service will resume Wednesday when schools reopen following a mid-winter recess. The strike has affected tens of thousands of schoolchildren, including many disabled students.

Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union went on strike over job protection issues.

The strike ended a day after five Democratic mayoral candidates sent a letter to the union asking drivers to return to work. The candidates said that, if elected, they will revisit the job security issue.

Union leaders say they're confident they can work on a deal when Mayor Michael Bloomberg is out of office.